Atlanta Daily World

Alexandra Jackson to Perform at Atlanta Jazz Festival

Renowned singer, composer and arranger Alexandra Jackson will perform at the 36th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival (main stage) at 5 p.m., on Sunday, May 26, at Piedmont Park.

Jackson is an Atlanta native and youngest daughter of Atlanta's first African-American mayor, Maynard Jackson, who founded the Atlanta Jazz Festival 36 years ago. She will perform her new album "From The Start," a jazz compilation of innovative tunes that represent the songstress's understanding of traditional jazz music.

An in-demand vocalist, she has performed at various international and national jazz festivals, including the acclaimed Montreux Jazz Festival. She has worked with musical pioneers such as Wynton Marsalis at Lincoln Center for the Essentially Ellington concert series and recorded with guitarist Al McKay from Earth, Wind & Fire.

Jackson was inspired to expand her musical journey through the release of her new Jazz EP "From The Start." Considered a traditional and contemporary studio compilation, this album gives music enthusiasts the opportunity to experience Jackson's vocal range through a diverse mixture of harmonic tones.

An ode to Sarah Vaughan, Jackson's leading single "I Didn't Know What Time It Was," captures rhythmic melodies, up-tempo pulsations and her signature syncopated tones.

Now living in Los Angeles, Jackson was able to return to her roots in Atlanta to record the album, "From The Start," which is a sentimental album for her.

"Jazz became a large part of my life when I was younger. So I chose to return to my high school (The Lovett School) to record my first jazz album," she says. "I thought it would be fitting for this project to be around the people who helped influence me musically at a young age; and then to record it with some of the incredible musicians with whom I had played for years."

The album features musicians Geoffrey Haydon on piano, Moffett Morris on bass, Dave Frackenpohl on guitar, and Joel Morris on drums.

This year the Atlanta Jazz Festival will focus on "Generation Next," highlighting the next era of future jazz stars, including Jackson, Meshell Ndegeocello, Jose James, Jacob Deaton, Julie Dexter, Gretchen Parlato, and many others.

Jackson will grace the stage with fellow musicians from Atlanta, as part of her quartet including Che Marshall on drums, Craig Shaw on bass and Gary Motley on piano. For more information about Jackson's performance at the Atlanta Jazz Festival, visit www.atlantafestivals.com.

A Better Diet Can Improve Your Looks

(StatePoint) There may be some credence to the old saying that “beauty comes from within.” Scientific research shows that the appearance of your largest, most visible organ -- your skin -- can be directly affected by the vitamins, nutrients and minerals you feed your body.

Do you crave a healthy glow? Before you cough up cash for that pricey spa treatment, try improving your skin woes from the inside out. Best of all, you’ll benefit your overall health and wellness at the same time.

Here are three ingredients for healthy skin:

Vitamin E

Vitamin E works as an antioxidant and is important for healthy skin. Luckily, it’s found naturally in some of the tastiest foods, such as kiwi, eggs, nuts, and green leafy vegetables. Cooking with olive oil is another easy way to get a dose of vitamin E. So in lieu of French fries, try sautéing some spinach in olive oil for a healthful complexion-friendly side dish.

You may also consider taking a vitamin E supplement.

Astaxanthin

What is astaxanthin? Astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant that protects cells, organs and body tissues from oxidative damage more powerfully than many other members of its carotenoid chemical family, including beta-carotene, lycopene and lutein.

“Astaxanthin supports healthy skin, especially during sun exposure, acting as a force field to prevent toxic, unstable free radical molecules from attacking your skin and causing premature aging,” says Dr. Gerald R. Cysewski, Ph.D, Chief Scientific Officer of Nutrex Hawaii, a nutritional supplement manufacturer.

Unfortunately, you can’t find astaxanthin by taking a simple trip down the produce aisle in your grocery store. There are only two main natural sources -- the microalgae that produce it, and the sea creatures that consume the algae (such as salmon, shellfish, and krill).

Whether you dislike fish, or you simply need a break occasionally, look into incorporating astaxanthin into your diet through supplements, such as BioAstin, which is available in different doses. Beyond supporting healthy skin, a daily dose of 4 mg may also improve cardiovascular health, boost immunity, and promote a healthy inflammation balance.

More information about the benefits of astaxanthin can be found at http://www.nutrex-hawaii.com/bioastin.

Vitamin B Complex

For a thorough beauty treatment, be sure to get plenty of vitamin B. Biotin, which is found in vitamin B complex, is necessary for healthy skin, hair and nails. You can source it naturally by including liver, Swiss chard, whole grains and soybeans in your diet.

With a few tweaks to your diet, you can finally put down the beauty magazine and start dishing out your own advice.

How to Help New High School Grads Transition Into Adulthood

(StatePoint) Transitioning from high school to the next life stage can be a time of excitement for young people, but it can also be a time filled with uncertainty.

Whether one is off to college, entering the workforce, or starting another big adventure, he or she may need extra emotional support at first.

Experts say that parents and caregivers can play a big role in ensuring the transition is a success.

“Whenever your child is going through a major life change, it’s important to consider his or her mental health and general well-being,” says Dr. Thomas K. McInerny, President of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

With that in mind, the AAP is offering the following tips for parents and youth navigating this important time of life:

• If your child is going to college, make sure he or she is familiar with the health and mental health support services on campus.

• If your child has a mental health diagnosis, such as ADHD or depression, be sure to ask the college staff what kind of medical information they will need related to your child and how to set up prescription refills if needed. Talk to the college about special housing and academic accommodations, if necessary.

• Contact your child’s pediatrician, who can be a good source of advice. In addition to ensuring your graduate has had all the vaccines and other preventive health care recommended for this stage of life, your pediatrician can also help you prepare the way for your young adult’s continuing mental and emotional health.

• Once your child is settled into his or her new routine, keep in close contact and try to get frequent readings about how he or she is doing academically and socially. While you can’t stand sentinel outside the dorm room, you can remain supportive from a distance.

• Is your child entering the workforce? Even if he or she is remaining at home for a time, life will still change dramatically. Be sure to give your son or daughter extra space as a young adult, but offer help navigating new responsibilities, such as paying bills and managing health care responsibilities.

• Once a teen graduates and leaves home, alcohol, drugs and sexual activity may become much more accessible.  Making poor choices can have life-changing results. Continue to have conversations about peer pressure, good decisions and consequences.

• As always, stay connected and be attuned to the warning signs of depression and other mental health issues. Look for “red flags,” such as excessive sleeping, excessive moodiness, obsessive body-image concerns and personality shifts.

• When it's time to "graduate" to an adult doctor, your pediatrician can arrange for the transition to care by an adult health care provider.

More health tips can be found at www.HealthyChildren.org.

Parenthood doesn’t end when your child turns 18. By offering emotional support, you can make the transition from high school to the next life stage a smooth one.

Coke Donates $1 Million to NCNW in Honor of Ingrid Saunders Jones

Calling Ingrid Saunders Jones "the heart and soul of the company," Muhtar Kent, CEO of The Coca-Cola Company announced the donation of $1 million in her honor to the historic National Council of Negro Women (NCNW).

Jones, who retires next month from Coke after 31 years, was elected chair of the NCNW last summer. At the gala celebration on May 1 at the Fernbank Museum, Jones said "turning the nonprofit around" will be her focus after her
career at Coke.

"I claim it here tonight," Jones said after receiving many tributes from colleagues and the community, including Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed.

She expressed her gratitude and appreciation for the gift in her honor for the organization founded by Mary McCloud Bethune and headed for years by the late Dorothy Height.

The surprise announcement and tributes brought Jones to tears. She said she had "practiced" not crying, but was unable to contain herself as she listened to speaker after speaker say how much she has meant to them personally and to the larger community.

Beside Kent, both of her two direct bosses sang her praises. Retired Coke executive Carl Ware talked about working with her at City Hall when he was president of the Atlanta City Council and how he was thrilled that she accepted his offer to come work for him in 1982 after he was hired by The Coca-Cola Company.

Alexander Cummings, chief administrative officer of Coke and her current boss, said he was grateful for the work that reputation that Jones has given the company worldwide.

In addition, Helen Smith Price, spoke on behalf of Jones' team at Coke. She brought a smile of recognition to many faces when she talked about Jones' attention to detail.

"To say she is a detail person is an understatement," Price said. "She not only wants the details, but she wants the details behind the details."

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed praised Jones for her dedication to the city, as well as to The Coca-Cola Company. He noted that Jones had worked for former Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson before joining The Coca-Cola Company. And after he was elected mayor in 2009, Reed said he met with Jones, who offered her support and counsel.

"She said I'll probably be the last mayor that she gets to train," Reed said with a smile.

In addition, several of the Morehouse College students that Jones has mentored stood in celebration of her work with them. She has worked with the student leadership development program since its inception.

Alicia Phillip, president of The Community Foundation, spoke on behalf of the "elders," several women who have worked with Jones over the years in philanthropic activities here and around the nation. Former Depart of Labor Secretary and Coca-Cola Diversity Council Chief Alexis Herman also praised Jones for her skills at pulling people together for a common good.

A native of Detroit, Jones came to Atlanta in a fellowship program to work at City Hall during Maynard Jackson's first term as mayor. Jackson was elected the first African-American mayor of a major Southern city in 1973. She began her career as a teacher and used her skills in government and corporate America to make the world her classroom.

(Photo: Muhtar Kent (from left), CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, shows a proclamation that was issued in honor of Ingrid Saunders Jones’s retirement after 31 years from the company, as she and Alexis Herman look on. The proclamation and a $1 million gift from Coke to the National Council of Negro Women were among the many tributes made at the gala reception on May 1 at Fernbank Museum.)